Page 39 of Her Fated Alpha Prince
And for what she was becoming.
The city’s cold grip tightened as Kael and Merek retraced their steps, every shadow a potential threat. The narrow alleys seemed to close in around them, the silence heavy but charged with unseen eyes. Kael’s mind churned, piecing together the encounter with Elder Varos—the man was testing them, yes, but also warning of deeper danger.
“We can’t afford mistakes,” Kael muttered, voice low. “Ariana’s becoming a beacon. Whoever watches her wants more than just information—they want control.”
Merek glanced at him, eyes grim. “The council’s reach is long, but is Varos acting this way? It’s almost like he’s a wildcard now.”
Kael nodded. “Or maybe the stakes have changed. The longer Ariana stays unaware, the more vulnerable she becomes. We need to act before the pieces move without us.”
They paused at a junction, the moonlight spilling pale silver across the cobblestones. Kael inhaled deeply, trying to steady the surge of adrenaline.
“Do you think Ariana suspects?” Merek asked quietly.
Kael hesitated. “I don’t know. The dream she had—the garden blooming in the dark—it means something. She’s beginning to feel the shift inside her, even if she doesn’t understand it yet.”
Merek’s gaze softened for a moment. “She’s stronger than she realizes. But strength can be a beacon, just like you said.”
Kael’s jaw clenched. The weight of responsibility settled heavy on his shoulders. For so long, he had been the hunter, the protector lurking in the shadows. But now, the lines blurred. He was bound not just by duty, but by something deeper, something raw and unspoken.
“We have to reach her before the others do,” Kael said firmly. “Before Seryna or anyone else takes their chance.”
The sound of footsteps echoed faintly, distant but deliberate. Both men turned sharply, weapons ready, but it was only a lone messenger—a youth, breathless, clutching a folded parchment.
Kael took the note with a sharp glance. The seal was unfamiliar—an intricate emblem of a rising phoenix intertwined with thorny vines.
He broke the seal carefully, eyes scanning the message.
“Meet me where the river splits at dawn,” the note read. “There is much to discuss. Trust no one but me.”
Kael folded the parchment slowly, the cold certainty settling in his gut. The game had just changed again.
“Looks like we have a new player,” he said quietly, slipping the note into his cloak.
Merek’s eyes searched Kael’s face. “Are you going?”
Kael didn’t hesitate. “I have to. For Ariana. For what’s coming.”
As the first pale light of dawn brushed the horizon, Kael’s resolve hardened. The shadows of the city stretched long, but he would face them head-on—because some battles were foughtnot just in the dark, but in the uncertain glow of what was yet to come.
CHAPTER 15
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ARIANA
The morning light felt sharper than usual, slicing through the thin curtains and settling on her skin like a warning. Ariana blinked awake, her mind still tangled in the dream’s remnants — the jungle, the silver flame, the voice whispering,“Remember who you are.”That phrase echoed louder now, pounding in her chest with a relentless rhythm.
She sat up slowly, muscles stiff, her breath shallow. The garden outside her window glowed faintly under the early sun, but the vibrant blooms from last night had wilted, leaving only traces of their unnatural brilliance. A part of her wanted to believe it had all been a trick of the night, but her fingertips told a different story — the faint warmth still lingered on her skin where she’d touched the petals.
Ariana’s gaze drifted to the folded parchment beneath her mattress.If you feel something changing, say nothing. For now. We are being watched.The words felt heavier this morning, as if wrapped in layers of meaning she hadn’t yet unraveled. Who was watching? Why was she so dangerous? And most importantly, what was she becoming?
Her fingers traced the edge of the parchment again, trembling slightly. She felt a weight settle in her chest, the kindthat tightens your throat and blurs your vision. But she pushed it down, forcing herself to breathe evenly. Fear wouldn’t help her now.
The knocking on the door from last night had replayed in her mind all morning — tentative, almost shy, but impossible to ignore. She hadn’t answered then, and she wasn’t sure she could now. Whoever it was, they didn’t want to reveal themselves. That only made her more wary.
Ariana wrapped a shawl around her shoulders and moved toward the window. Her reflection stared back from the glass — eyes wide, alert, searching for answers that refused to come. The changes inside her weren’t just about power or magic; they felt deeply personal, like an awakening buried beneath layers of forgotten memories.
Outside, the garden stirred again, subtle movement among the leaves like a breath in the wind. She shivered despite the warmth in the room. The plants no longer responded to her touch like before, but the sense of connection remained — as if the earth itself was waiting for her to remember.
